The show lasted only one season on CBS, from 1978 to 1979, and was canceled because of low ratings. The cable channel Showtime revived the series in 1983, where it ran for three years without commercials and was a great success. John Houseman passed away two years after the series went off the air. The first season was released on DVD in April 2009, with Season 2 scheduled to follow in December.
Chicago PBS station WTTW bought the rights to air season one episodes over a year after the series ended on CBS. The program aired on numerous PBS stations between 1980 and 1982. The revival was such a success, the Showtime cable network aired new episodes from 1983 to 1986.
For some reason Lindsay Wagner, who played Kingsfield's daughter in the movie (and was arguably the one big breakout star from the movie) never makes a cameo on this TV show. Wagner would go on to great stardom playing the Bionic Woman, only a year later.
In the opening, Kingsfield says, "if you survive" Yet, this show is based on the Harvard Law School. They are very careful about their acceptance of applicants, consequently they have a very high success rate.